What is it about reviewing a year that makes everything seem so poignant and dramatic?
I mean, just try and watch this Google Zeitgeist video without getting a little choked up.
In online marketing this year, most of us were more likely to be weeping about losing our keyword data thanks to Google’s secure search, or Facebook throttling our ability to reach our fans.
But there was also plenty of innovation and opportunity. Here’s a month-by-month look at the year in online marketing. (Click on any photo for more context on the item.)
JANUARY
Vine launches
Twitter debuts short video service Vine
Facebook unveils Graph Search
Facebook introduces Graph Search to a closed beta
FEBRUARY
Oreo tweets to infamy
Oreo’s timely Super Bowl tweet launches a thousand blog posts about real-time marketing
Burger King hacked
Burger King’s Twitter account was hacked, creating a strange trend of real and faked hacks that would continue throughout the year.
Twitter launches ads API
Twitter launches Ads API
MARCH
Google debuts Universal Analytics
Google Analytics expands its universal analytics
New look for Google+
Google+ unveils a redesigned look with giant profile photos
Google AdWords adds advanced campaigns
Facebook reimagines News Feed
Facebook revamps the News Feed
Pinterest adds analytics
Pinterest adds analytics
APRIL
Google suit settled
Google reaches antitrust deal
Dove campaign captures viewers
Emoticons come to Facebook
Emoticons and activities come to Facebook statuses
MAY
Upworthy gains steam
Upworthy reaches a milestone of 30 million unique monthly visitors
Peguin 2.0 unleashed
Penguin 2.0 rocks search marketers
Gmail redesigns inbox
Gmail unveils new tabbed inbox
Amy’s Baking is social media ‘don’t’
Amy’s Baking Company cooks up one of the biggest social media meltdowns of all time
JUNE
Leak implicates Internet companies
The PRISM/National Security Agency leak reveals that Facebook, Google and more major Internet companies allow the government direct access to users’ data
Instagram adds video
Instagram adds video
Yahoo acquires Tumblr
Yahoo acquires Tumblr
Facebook shows off new Insights
Facebook revamps Insights
JULY
Google vs. PR?
The PR industry has a minor freak-out when Google Webmaster Tools updates its link schemes guidelines to prohibit “links with optimized anchor text in articles or press releases distributed on other sites.”
Facebook Graph Search for all
Facebook opens Graph Search to public
Chipotle ‘hacks’ its own account
Chipotle fakes a Twitter hack in a baffling PR stunt
LinkedIn launches sponsored updates
LinkedIn launches sponsored update ads
Google invites explorers to Glass
Google rolls out invitations for Google Glass with the Glass Explorer program
AUGUST
Google Keyword Planner debuts
Google’s Keyword Planner replaces Keyword Tool
In-depth articles take spotlight
Google emphasizes in-depth articles with special designation
SEPTEMBER
Pinterest launches sponsored pins
Pinterest announces sponsored pins
Google Hummingbird debuts
Google rolls out its Hummingbird update
Chipotle ad dazzles
Chipotle’s highly successful “Scarecrow” video propels content marketing forward
Instagram hits new heights
Instagram reaches 150 million monthly active users
100% (not provided) approaches
Google moves to secure search
OCTOBER
Instagram launches ads
Instagram adds advertising
Medium opens to public
Blogging platform Medium launches to the public
NOVEMBER
Twitter goes public
Twitter goes public
Internet embraces Batkid
Social media powers the viral story of Miles Scott, 5, in remission from leukemia, whose Batkid wish was granted by the Make A Wish Foundation.
Buzzfeed hits traffic record
BuzzFeed has its biggest traffic month ever, reaching more than 130 million unique visitors globally
Selfies rule
Oxford Dictionaries names “selfie” the word of the year
Snapchat gambles big
Snapchat turns down a reported $3 billion offer from Facebook
DECEMBER
Facebook changes Newsfeed
Facebook tweaks algorithm to focus on news stories, lowering the reach of brands
Google+ debuts Post ads
Google+ Post ads are placed across Google’s Display Network, driving users back to the brand’s Google+ profile.
WestJet tugs hearts with “Christmas Miracle” video
Facebook tries promoted video ads
Facebook tests promoted video ads
Rap Genius gets Google’s wrath
Google removes lyrics annotation site Rap Genius from search results after investigating a linking scheme.
Whew! Quite a year for marketers. What did I miss – and which events had the biggest impact on you? Let me know in the comments!